This October 4 to 6, Warburton will be transformed into a vibrant hub of arts, music and culture as The River Folk Festival takes over.
The River Folk Festival is back and folkier than ever. The festival will be celebrating their fifth anniversary this October 4 to October 6 with all the bells and whistles. This boutique three-day event will offer a blend of music, performing arts, storytelling, and community spirit across various venues and stages throughout Warburton.
With a program of exciting arts events and community contributions, The River Folk Festival is more than just music. Attendees can also explore the iconic Valley Market for local and ethical artisan goods, enjoy the Sisters of Song Women’s Showcase, and find a dedicated Children’s Space for families and little ones.
The River Folk Festival
- Friday October 4 to Sunday October 6
- Various venues around Warburton
- Tickets here
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
A lineup of your folkiest desires
- Amadou Suso
- Mzaza
- Kerryn Fields
- Pirritu
- Austral
- Stringmania Concert
- The Weeping Willows
- River Folk Restrung
- Broken Creek
- Mandy Connell
- Oceanique
- Ailsa Mitchell
- Follow the Robin
The 2024 lineup is particularly strong this year, with River Folk focusing on centring music at the heart of the festival. Featuring a mix of cherished local folk heroes and fresh new faces, the stages of Warburton are set for an unforgettable celebration as these artists converge throughout the town.
Whether you don’t want to miss a minute of the action or there’s a particular day of music you want to focus on, The River Folk Festival has got you covered. The second round of three-day, two-day and one-day festival passes are on sale now. There’s even a locals discount, so all of those folk repping the 3799 postcode can get the opportunity of one weekend of priceless music for extra cheap.
To five years, and many more
In an era of uncertainty for the live music scene, The River Folk Festival stands as a beacon of hope, shining bright with community spirit. With a lineup this impressive, it promises to deliver an extraordinary experience, cementing it as a much-needed event in Australia’s musical calendar.
Read on to discover the electrifying musicians set to bring The River Folk Festival to life this October.
MZAZA
Get a spritz of Balkan-French-inspired folk at River Folk this year with MZAZA, a collection of musicians from around the world fronted by the mesmerising French-Sephardic vocalist Paulin Maudy. MZAZA are no strangers to the festival circuit, having played all over the country and the world. You can certainly count on them enchanting audiences at the Yarra Valley this year with their powerful prowess.
Kerryn Fields
From across the ditch and straight to the Yarra Valley, Aotearoa New Zealand songwriter Kerryn Fields is gearing up to make her mark on Aussie audiences at River Folk. Connecting to listeners with a personal journey through music, this masterful musician will deliver a set you won’t forget.
Ailsa Mitchell
A rising star in the Australian folk scene, Ailsa Mitchell has already made her mark on festival stages across the country. Performing everywhere from the Queenscliff Music Festival to the National Folk Festival in the nation’s capital, Ailsa Mitchell’s warm intimacy is sure to enchant The River Folk Stage.
Amadou Suso
When Amadou Suso first began playing the Kora, the musician was shorter than the instrument itself. Since then, Amadou has travelled the world performing the Kora, stunning audiences with his masterful playing and sharing with them the rich musical history of the Mandinka tribe – a tribe in Gambia, West Africa, where Amadou is from.
Austral
Get ready to hitch up your kilt and tap your feet – the party is going to be brought up to eleven with Austral. Austral is a four-piece Australian Celtic group that borrows influences and inspiration from across the musical spectrum. They’re known for blending diverse musical influences into an irresistibly electric performance. Just try not to dance along, we dare you.
Broken Creek
A love letter to the places they come from and reimaginations of an Australiana of times past, Erin and Lachlan Heycox are bringing Broken Creek to The River Folk stage. Combining traditional folk sounds with innovative elements, Broken Creek honour their rural Victorian roots while creating something new.
Follow the Robin
This indie folk muso is ditching the big smoke of Melbourne for the campfire smoke of River Folk this October. Follow the Robin is known for her lyrical poetry and captivating melodies, turning every listener into an immediate fan.
Mandy Connell
The poetic Mandy Connell will undoubtedly stun River Folk audiences this October with the finesse of her songwriting and her ability to seamlessly weave stories into her music. Mandy’s lyrical expertise will be lighting the Yarra Valley alive very soon.
Oceanique
Originally from the deep south of regional Western Australia, this now Melbourne-based folk indie group is exactly what the River Folk Festival needs on its lineup. Oceanique’s incredible musical synergy can perhaps be put down to the sibling closeness of Maddy and Jess, who are twins. These spectacular musicians will be performing the sort of set at The River Folk Festival that is sure to heal the soul.
Pirritu
Proud Ngiyampaa man and First Nations singer-songwriter Pirritu (Brett Lee) knows how to move audiences. The craftsmanship of his lyrics prompts an experience of heartfelt storytelling and raw emotion. This musician’s sound connects so deeply with his listeners that it’s sure to never truly leave you.
River Folk Restrung
Performing arts meets a string orchestra for River Folk Restrung. This event is the brainchild of Mickey and Michelle, who have orchestrated this innovative and immensely exciting project. Professional artists collaborate with an orchestra of strings and harp to create something that is wholly new and original on the River Folk stage.
Stringmania Concert
Stringmania is an immersive residential camp open to musicians who want to learn more about traditional and contemporary string music. This River Folk Festival, they’ll be presenting their celebratory public concert that marks the culmination of the camp. Watch these aspiring musicians show off their expertise and celebrate what the community spirit of the festival.
The Weeping Willows
With three CMAAs, two Australian Folk Music Awards and a Music Victoria Award to their names, there’s no doubt Laura Coates and Andrew Wrigglesworth know how to captivate audiences. They’ve toured their Gothic Americana and Australiana sunshine sonic experience across the US. Now, The Weeping Willows are back just in time for River Folk.
The River Folk Festival 2024 is made possible by the generous support of Creative Australia, Yarra Ranges Council, the Community Bank Warburton and Yarra Junction, and numerous Yarra Valley local business sponsors.
This article was made in partnership with The River Folk Festival.
